The Newsroom
Plain-English breakdowns of the rules that actually matter to Uber drivers, DoorDash dashers, Upwork freelancers, Etsy sellers, and anyone who files a 1099. Updated for the 2025 tax year.
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What 'TC' really means in tech offer comparisons, how to compute it including 401(k) match and benefits, and why the strict formula understates real value.
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Real total compensation bands for software engineers, product managers, and designers across L3 through L8 — including how things changed after the 2024 layoffs.
How clawback clauses work, why pro-rated beats cliff, and three negotiation asks that frequently succeed in shortening or removing the clawback period.
How 401(k) match formulas work, why '100% up to 5%' beats '50% up to 10%', and how the match adds up to half a million dollars over a 30-year career.
How much do you need to earn in Austin to live the same as on $200K in San Francisco? Full breakdown of housing, taxes, and COLI across 25 US cities.
Three battle-tested scripts (email, verbal, counter-offer) for negotiating any job offer in 2025. Plus 5 red flags that mean you should walk away.
What '4 years with a 1-year cliff' actually means, how monthly vs quarterly vesting affects your equity, and why most employees lose money to back-loaded grants.
Two offers? Here's how to factor in RSU vesting, 401(k) match, PTO, and cost of living to know which one actually wins on 4-year total compensation.
The IRS underpayment penalty quietly hits 1 in 5 freelancers. Here's how the safe harbor rule works and how to dodge the penalty entirely.
Did you earn more than $400 on Upwork or Fiverr? Here's exactly how to file 1099 income, claim service fees, and avoid double-reporting.
Should you take the simplified $5/sq ft home office deduction or the actual expense method? Here's which one saves freelancers more in 2025.
Why do gig workers pay 15.3% in self-employment tax? Here's the breakdown of Social Security and Medicare taxes for 1099 contractors in 2025.
The IRS standard mileage rate is $0.70/mile for 2025. Here are the best free and paid apps to track every business mile — and audit-proof your logs.
Confused between 1099-NEC, 1099-K, and 1099-MISC? Here's exactly which form you'll receive from Uber, Upwork, Stripe, PayPal, and more in 2025.
Avoid IRS penalties with this plain-English walkthrough of quarterly estimated tax payments for self-employed gig workers in 2025.
The average freelancer overpays the IRS by $1,249 each year. Here are the 15 most-missed 1099 deductions — and exactly how to claim them.
Everything DoorDash drivers need to know about 1099 taxes in 2025: forms, deductions, mileage rates, and how to file without overpaying.
Most rideshare drivers underestimate taxes. Here's the exact percentage Uber and Lyft drivers should set aside in 2025, plus the math behind it.
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